Bone mineral content determined by energy X-ray absorptiometry correlates with handgrip strength in Latin American...

Although a lack of gravitational stimuli decreases bone mineral content in some populations, such as astronauts' bone mineral content (BMC), little is known about the association of BMC with handgrip muscle strength (HGS) in divers of different years of diving experience.

To describe the BMC and body composition of diver workers of different years of diving experience. A second objective was to associate the level of BMC with HGS.

A descriptive and longitudinal pilot study was carried out in adult men divers of different years of diving experience; tertile 1 of diving experience 1-20 years (T1DE, n = 27), tertile 2 of diving experience 21-35 years (T2DE, n = 11), and tertile 3 of diving experience 36-45 years (T3DE, n = 17). Primary variables were BMC, total fat-free mass (FFM), and total body fat mass (BF), which were analyzed using dual X-ray absorptiometry (iDXA) equipment and the average of both arms' handgrip strength (HGS_av). Secondary variables were lifestyle patterns, anthropometry, and other socio-demographic variables.

T3DE showed significant differences vs. T1DE group in BMC_Legs (diff. -107.9 g, p = 0.029), BMC_RL (diff. -51.4 g, p = 0.039), and BMC_LL (diff. -55.7 g, p = 0.037). T3DE showed significant differences vs. T1DE group in outcomes total FFM (diff. -5011.9 g, p = 0.015), FFM_Arms (diff. -1275.1 g, p = 0.009), FFM_RA (diff. -472.3 g, p = 0.012), FFM_LA (diff. -406.6 g, p = 0.028), FFM_Legs (diff. -2117.8 g, p = 0.031), FFM_RL (diff. -1046.3 g, p = 0.037), and FFM_LL (diff. -1071.3 g, p = 0.031). There was a significant correlation between HGS_av and total BMC (R ² = 21.3%), between HGS_RA and total BMC (R ² = 21.1%), between HGS_LA and total BMC (R ² = 20.2%), between HGS_av and BMC_Arms (R ² = 28.8%), between HGS_RA and BMC_Arms (R ² = 27.9%), between HGS_LA and BMC_Arms (R ² = 27.8%), between HGS_av and BMC_Legs (R ² = 13.3%), between HGS_RA and BMC_Legs (R ² = 13.8%), and between HGS_LA and BMC_Legs (R ² = 11.9%).

Diver workers with greater years of experience exhibit a reduced level of BMC and FFM in the legs compared to peers with less experience, and HGS is associated with BMC. Future longitudinal studies in diver workers could explore BMC and body composition in these populations to confirm our findings and include other physical fitness parameters in different diving specialties.